Thousand Oaks, California

Thousand Oaks (commonly referred to by locals as "T.O.") is a city located in Ventura County, California, named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned by the symbol of an oak. The city is part of a regional area called the Conejo Valley, which includes Thousand Oaks proper, Newbury Park, and part of Westlake Village. In fact, the Los Angeles County/Ventura County line crosses right through the middle of Westlake Village; thus, Westlake Village, 91362 is technically part of the city of Thousand Oaks in Ventura County, whereas Westlake Village, 91361 is its own city, separate and distinct from Thousand Oaks in Los Angeles County. The city is served by both the Ventura Freeway and California State Route 23. California Lutheran University is located in Thousand Oaks.

History

The area was once occupied by the Chumash people, and 2000-year old cave drawings may still be seen at the Chumash Interpretive Center, in the Lang Ranch section of the city.

Related Topics:
Chumash - Chumash Interpretive Center

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The area's recorded history dates to 1542 when Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo landed at Point Mugu and claimed the land for his country. It eventually became part of the 48,671-acre Rancho El Conejo land grant by the Spanish government, thus becoming the basis of the name Conejo Valley (conejo means "rabbit" in Spanish, of which there are many in the area). It served as grazing land for vaqueros for the next fifty years.

Related Topics:
1542 - Spanish - Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo - Point Mugu - Acre - Vaquero

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In the late 19th Century it was on the stagecoach route between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. The Stagecoach Inn was built in 1876, and is now a California Historical Landmark and a popular museum.

Related Topics:
19th Century - Stagecoach - Los Angeles - Santa Barbara - Stagecoach Inn - 1876 - California Historical Landmark

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The Janss Family, developers of Southern California subdivisions, purchased 10,000 acres (40 km²) in the early 1900s. Janss eventually created plans for a "total community" and the name remains prominently featured in the city.

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Jungleland USA was one of Southern California's very first theme parks. Wild animal shows entertained thousands in the 40s and 50s. Many TV and movie productions were filmed there and made use of the park's trained animals (among them, Birth of a Nation, Tarzan, and The Adventures of Robin Hood). The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza today stands on the hundreds of acres that is the former site of the park.

Related Topics:
Jungleland USA - Southern California - Theme park - Birth of a Nation - Tarzan - The Adventures of Robin Hood

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The City of Thousand Oaks was incorporated on September 29, 1964.

Related Topics:
September 29 - 1964

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